Fact Sh @

Holistic health
"Aboriginal health does not (just) mean the physical wellbeing of an
individual, but refers to the social, emotional, and cultural wellbeing of
the whole community... Health care services should strive to achieve
this (whole-of-life) state where every individual is able to achieve their
full potential as human beings and must bring about the total
wellbeing of their communities."

National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation, 1979

The National Aboriginal Health _-t,.:it.....,._ 1;,d11:,c;, 101 •., knowledge systems are life-affirming and

fundamental to restoring vital connections to the

domains

networks. Connections to land, culture, and spirituality

shape these networks. Mental wellbeing is an important
component of SEWB, but needs to be viewed as only one
component of health that is inextricably linked to the
social, emotional, physical, cultural, and spiritual
dimensions of wellbeing.
This view of health requires pathways of healing to be
in harmony with a holistic world-view. Healing for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is often
viewed as a collective and relational process involving
physical, social, emotional, mental, environmental, and
spiritual wellbeing.
Strait Islander Peoples' Mental Health and Social and
Emotional Wellbeing (2017) is the community-endorsed,
guiding national document that defines the evolving
understandings of SEWB among Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples and communities.
The National Aboriginal Health Strategy (1989) underpinned
the development of nine principles by Indigenous SEWB
experts in consultation with communities. These principles
are the foundation of culturally safe and responsive work
with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Programs adopting these principles are more likely to be
successful in supporting the health and wellbeing of
Aboriginal peoples and communities.
 Principles
The nine guiding principles for the SEWB Framework are drawn from the
Ways Forward report to emphasise the holistic and whole-of-life definition
of health held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is viewed in a holistic context, that
encom passes mental health and physical, cultural and spiritual health. Land is central to
1 wellbeing. Crucially, it must be understood that when the harmony of these interrelations
is disrupted,
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ill health will persist.

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Self-determination is central to the provision of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health services.

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Culturally valid understandings must shape the provision of services and must guide
assessment, care and management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's health in

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general, and mental health in particular.
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It must be recognised that the experiences of trauma and loss, present since
European invasion, are a direct outcome of the disruption to cultural wellbeing. Trauma and
loss of this magnitude continues to have inter-generational effects.

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s • • • The human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be recognised
and respected. Failure to respect these human rights constitutes continuous disruption to

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mental health. Human rights relevant to mental illness must be specifically addressed.
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Racism, stigma, environmental adversity and social disadvantage constitute ongoing
stressors and have negative impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples'
mental health and wellbeing.

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• • • • • The centrality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family and kinship must
7 be recognised as well as the broader concepts of family and the bonds of reciprocal

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affection,
responsibility and
sharing.
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There is no single Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander culture or group, but numerous

a groups, languages, kinships, and tribes, as well as ways of living. Furthermore, Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people may currently live in urban, rural or remote settings, in

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traditional or other lifestyles, and frequently move between these ways of living.
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It must be recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have great

9 strengths, creativity and endurance and a deep understanding of the relationships

between human beings and their environment.
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'
determinants of Indigenous health - Report on the national consultations.
Government of Australia.

Commonwealth of Australia. (2017). National Strategic Framework for

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Mental Health and Social and
Emotional Wellbeing. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Department of Health. (2015). Implementation Plan for the National

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023. Australian
Government.
••
·. 0 Dudgeon, P.,Smallwood, G., Bray, A., Walker, R. & Dalton, T. (2020).
Wellbeing and Healing Through Connection and Culture. LifeIine.

Dudgeon, P., Walker, R., Serine, C., Shepherd, C., Calma, T., & Ring, I.
0 (2014). Effective strategies to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In Closing the Gap
Clearinghouse Series. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Gee, G., Dudgeon, P.,Schultz,C., Hart, A., & Kelly, K. (2014).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing.

0 In P. Dudgeon, H. Milroy, & R. Walker (Eds), Working together:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing
Principles and Practice (2nd ed.).

Healing Foundation. (2019). A Theory of Change for Healing. The Healing

Foundation

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